Berkeley was preparing for 1925鈥檚 wildfire season in several ways, the Berkeley Daily Gazette reported a century ago on June 26, 1925.
The city had purchased a supply of firefighting equipment including 鈥渟hovels, rakes, a plentiful supply of gunny sacks 鈥 and electric lanterns.鈥 These would be used by city employees called to fight hills-area fires. If a fire threatened, the first alarm would go out from a siren at the new Grizzly Peak fire lookout and via calls to neighborhood fire wardens in the affected area.
A second alarm, if needed, would be sounded on the siren of the California Ink Works in West Berkeley, according to the Gazette, and a third alarm if needed, 鈥渨ill be sounded by the new fire siren of the University of California and 鈥 will call out the workmen on the university grounds and volunteer male students if college is in session. This service will be primarily for the protection of the university grounds and buildings 鈥 .鈥
UC Berkeley would also cache firefighting equipment at four sites on the campus and in Strawberry Canyon and continue to maintain fire trails in the hills areas. The story noted that the East Bay Water Co. 鈥渉as cleared a fire break back of Berkeley.鈥
The city鈥檚 assets: A June 20, 1925, Gazette advertisement by the American Bank highlighted the city鈥檚 attractions. Part of it is shown in the photo accompanying this article.
Wagon crash: 鈥淭he first collision between a train and a horse-drawn vehicle in years occurred this forenoon when a Berkeley Farm Creamery wagon driven by C.R. Brennan, 32, of 1635 Spruce Street, was struck by an Ellsworth street train at Woolsey and Deakin streets. Brennan was thrown from the truck and sustained a probable fracture of the right leg and body bruises,鈥 the Gazette reported.
鈥淭he impact turned the wagon completely around, throwing both horses. Neither was injured. Some milk was spilled, but the wagon was only slightly damaged.鈥
New loans: An announcement of the creation of a new financial institution in Berkeley in the June 26, 1925, Gazette also showed the era鈥檚 close ties between city government and the business community. The business was the proposed Security Bond Building and Loan Association that was described as concentrating on financing new residential construction and home loans in the city.
鈥淭he association will undoubtedly play an important part in the development of Berkeley鈥檚 home districts,鈥 the Gazette noted.
Prominent among public officials said to be 鈥渇inancially interested鈥 in the project were the city manager, city attorney, police chief, fire chief, city librarian and city engineer, plus one councilmember and one school board member. One can imagine the conflict-of-interest issues such a relationship would raise today, but in the 1925 Gazette, the investment and involvement of city officials was noted matter-of-factly.
Taxes: 鈥淎ll property on which 1924-25 taxes are unpaid will automatically come into the possession of the city on Saturday (June 27, 1925), according to the announcement today of Miss Pauline Young, city treasurer and tax collector,鈥 the Gazette warned readers June 24.
Major earthquake: The Gazette鈥檚 June 29, 1925, front page was filled with early reports of a major earthquake that day which 鈥渓aid in ruins鈥 the city of Santa Barbara.
Looking back at history records, it appears it was a 6.5- to 6.8-magnitude quake that killed 13 and destroyed Santa Barbara鈥檚 downtown. Public and commercial buildings collapsed or were irreparably damaged; one of the towers on the Santa Barbara Mission partially fell; and a nearby dam also failed, flooding part of the city.
Bay Area native and Berkeley community historian Steven Finacom holds this column鈥檚 copyright.